Author
Topic: Dryer Discoloration -- help! (Read 3857 times)

I used rubbing alcohol inside my dryer to clean it and it turned the white interior blue. I am assuming that it was some kind of chemical reaction. I wanted to clean the dryer because I just moved into a house that had a dirty dryer. I need to know if it is safe to use the dryer. I have a baby and I wash his clothing and stuffed animals that he chews on. Thanks!

If I was you I would not run the dryer till it was taken apart and cleaned up. Alcohol is flammable and you should not use a flammable to clean a dryer. I would carry it outside and dismantle it. Wash it and vacuum it out.DO NOT LET THE MOTOR OR CONTROLS GET WET. Clean out the filter housing and rinse out the drum. Oil the wheels and idler and replace the belt.

« Last Edit: September 24, 2008, 02:53:39 PM by JWWebster »

Logged

May the hinges of our friendship never grow rusty.

About the icons: The beer is tip link, if a tech saves ya some money buy em a 6 pack. The small green square=personal message. The green dot is a link to my web page on appliance repair and other general BS I love to post. The letter sends me email.I love fan letters! LOL

The dryer is safe to use as is. Alcohol evaporates upon contact with air, so no traces of the chemical qualities nor the flammable characteristics of it remain. The blue discoloration is fairly normal and occurs in many dryers where no alcohol was introduced. Certain cleaning products can cause the enamel in the drum to turn blue, but it will not harm humans in any way, nor is it likely to rub off on the load. I see blue drums like this on many of my service calls.

Unless the dryer needs additional servicing, such as JW suggested, there is no need to disassemble it. If blue is not your color, you can refinish the inside of the drum with any hi-temp enamel available at auto parts stores.